Some of the players that failed to make it through the day were Mike Matusow, Jennifer Tilley, Phil Laak, Gus Hansen, Eli Elezra, Todd Brunson, Gavin Smith, Amarillo Slim and Tony G.  While they will be watching from the side lines, Chris Ferguson, Andy Black, Greg Mueller, Mike Sexton and Thor Hansen have all managed to get through to the next session.

Day 2b should be interesting as the field for this session will be much larger.  A lot of players chose to play in the 2 late Day 1’s and we will see about 3,500 players start the day off before they combine fields to move forward.  It was also interesting that a lot of the professionals chose to start off on the later days as they knew they would also be packed with a lot of the amateurs that were getting satellite tickets into the Main Event.

We have talked many times about how difficult it is for the pros to navigate through large fields because of the fact that everyone wants to be the person that can say, “I took out (fill in name of pro here).”  Not only that, but by playing in one of the first two sessions, you would get a significant more amount of rest in compared to the later days when the fields get combined.  Make no mistake about it, these players will wear down with the grind that they are faced with.

We are a long way from the bubble as the top 648 players get paid.  You can expect that stage not be reached until Friday at the earliest.  When that time approached, play will come to grinding halt as everyone can smell the money and do not want to be the person that goes out on the bubble in the largest stage that poker sees every year.

Strap in and get ready for another long session of poker on Wednesday.  They will hopefully get this field down to under 1,000 players, leaving less than 2,000 overall to go into Day 3.  That is when the real fun begins as we will have all of the players in the same room for the first time since the tournament has started.

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson – Mr. Ferguson, more affectionately known as “Jesus” was the first person to come to mind when I was making this list. Owner of 5 World Series of Poker bracelets and more then 50 cashes, he is up there on the list of all time earners, taking home more then $4 million in the Series alone. Now Chris hasn’t won a bracelet in some time, but he is still one of the best all around players in the world and he had six cashes and 3 final tables last year. Jesus is the definition of due and I think he will get that long awaited bracelet when the 2009 Series roles around. He hasn’t won a bracelet since 2003, but in that time frame he has won three circuit events and has multiple big finishes including a heads up loss in the Seven Card Stud World Championship in 2008. Feel free to place a bet on Ferguson this year, he is due and I think 2009 might just be the year of Jesus.

Daniel Negreanu – Coming off a big World Series of Poker Europe in 2008, the Canadian born Negreanu will be looking to cash in again in 2009. Daniel has four career bracelets including a limit holdem title in 2008, previous to that he hadn’t won a bracelet since 2004. I don’t know what it is, but “Kid Poker” seems to show up for the big events, he has tremendous skill and great ability to make his way through big fields. Negreanu is the kind of guy you like to root for, not only is he one of the top players in the world, but he is fun at the tables. If my opinion counted, if I had one bet to make heading into the 2009 Series in would be for Daniel to win a bracelet. He will be looking to follow up a great 2008 with an even better 2009.

Allen Cunningham - You might not hear as much about Allen as you do some of the other great players in the world, but he is up there with 5 career bracelets. Allen didn’t win a bracelet in 2008, and I don’t think he will get shut out 2 years in a row. Cunningham is one of the most intelligent and methodical holdem players in the world and I don’t think you can keep him down long. Still just 30 something Allen has a real chance to put his name in the mix as one of the best all around players to ever play the game. The smart money heading into 2009 might be on Allen Cunningham, he is one of the best players in the world who will be hungry for his 6th bracelet.

Phil Hellmuth – You can’t make this list without including the “Poker Brat”, well he does have 11 career bracelets. Phil is the best no limit holdem player in the world, at least he’ll tell you that. I happen to agree that if its no limit Phil’s the favorite. With 11 career bracelets all in holdem you can’t fight the fact that he has earned his spot on top of the list. Phil had 6 cashes in last years Series in Vegas and although he didn’t win his 12th he did make 3 final tables. The one thing about Phil you know is that he takes the World Series of Poker seriously and will do whatever he can to be known as the best holdem player to ever live. You can’t blame a guy for striving for greatness and if you get a price on Phil in 2009 jump at the chance to gamble with him.

Mike Matusow – I don’t; know why, but this one is kind of a gut feeling. “The Mouth” has had a lot of great showing in big tournaments over the years, especially in the main event. He did manage to win his 3rd bracelet last year in a low ball event and made a deep run at the main event once again finishing 30th. If I had to place my money on a big named pro to win the main event, I think I would choose Mike, he has proven he shows up for the big ones.

Well, obviously this is just my opinion, and there are a lot of names to choose from. Special mentions to Erik Seidel,  Layne Flack and the 2008 Europe main event champ John Juanda. Always remember gamble only with money you can afford to loose, and that no bet is a sure bet.

Seat 1: Erik Friberg 189,000
Seat 2: David Penly 162,000
Seat 3: Jason Mercier 650,000
Seat 4: Sorel Mizzi 290,000
Seat 5: Tomi Nyback 434,000
Seat 6: Theo Jorgensen 897,000
Seat 7: Max Pescatori 126,000
Seat 8: Eric Dalby 277,000
Seat 9: Chris Ferguson 282,000

Tomi Nyback was the first player to be eliminated from the final table. Theo Jorgensen made a pot size raise preflop to 48,000 and both Sorel Mizzi and Nyback made the call. The flop fell 7h-4d-2c and Nyback moved all in. Jorgensen made the call, and Mizzi went into the tank for a while. Finally, he moved all in for 270,000 and Jorgensen made the call. Jorgensen held Kh-Kd-8s-5d for a gutshot straight draw and kings. Mizzi held 7s-5c-4s-2d for top two pair and Nyback held Ks-Qc-10s-7c for top pair and air. The turn fell the As and the river the 9h and Mizzi’s two pair won the hand. Tomi Nyback was our 9th place finisher, taking home £22,688.

About an hour later, Jason Mercier was all in on a flop of 10d-Jh-As. He held 10s-8s-7d-9d for top two pair and a wrap straight draw. His opponent, Theo Jorgensen, called showing Ac-Ah-5d-5s for top set. A 9h on the turn completed Mercier’s straight, but the Ad on the river gave Jorgensen quad Aces and sent Mercier out in 8th place. He will take home £26,812 for his finish.

The very next hand, Chris Ferguson moved all in on a flop of Kc-Qc-6d. Theo Jorgensen decided it was his mission to be involved with every all in hand, so he made the call. Ferguson held Ac-As-Js-8c for the nut flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. Jorgensen must have the magic potion for drawing sets as he had flopped another set with 6s-6h-5c-3c. Part of that potion must have included a quads clause, as the turn fell the 6c, giving Jorgensen quads for the second straight hand. Nobody cared about the 9d that fell on the river. Chris Ferguson became our 7th place finisher, taking home £33,000 pounds for his efforts.

It took a little longer to lose our next player. Nearly an hour later, David Penly moved all-in over a raise from Max Pescatori. Pescatori made the call. Penly held Ac-Ah-5s-Qc and Pescatori held Kc-Qd-Jc-10d. The flop of Jh-9h-3c gave Pescatori a wrap straight draw. The Qs on the turn filled out his straight and made the river 10c meaningless. David Penly became our 6th place finisher, taking home £41,250.

About 15 minutes later, Max Pescatori bet out 50,000 on a board of Ac-10c-9s-Ks-2h. Erik Friberg raised to 200,000, and Pecatori called. He showed Kd-Kc and two random cards for a set and Friberg showed Qh-Jh-8c-6c for broadway. Pescatori was left with 19,000. The very next hand, Pescatori moved all in on the flop and Sorel Mizzi and Theo Jorgensen made the call. Mizzi and Jorgensen checked it down to the river. The board was Kh-Qs-9d-10d-As when Jorgensen showed 10s-6h-5h-3c for just a pair of tens. Remarkably, tens were good and Pescator was our 5th place finisher, taking home £51,562.

A couple of hours later, Erik Friberg and Sorel Mizzi both saw a flop of 2s-Kd-8s. Friberg bet out 20,000 and Mizzi called. The turn fell the 4d and Friberg led out for 60,000. Mizzi then raised for 200,000 total and Friberg moved over the top all-in. Mizzi called. Friberg held 4s-8h-7c-7h for two pair, and Mizzi held 7s-6s-9h-Kh for a flush draw, a gutshot straight draw, and a pair of kings. The river fell the Ks, completing Mizzi’s flush and Erik Friberg was our 4th place finisher. He took home £66,000 for his finish.

Eric Dalby was one of the more remarkable stories of this event. This Englishman came into three way action second in chips with 990,000. The fact that he made it this far is not the amazing story. The amazing part of this story is that he is 78 years old. He has been playing poker for 50 years and has outlasted probably the strongest field in the world in Omaha to make it this far.

About ten minutes after Friberg’s elimination, Sorel Mizzi raised to 49,000 from the button. Both Theo Jorgensen and Eric Dalby made the call. The flop fell 10d-8h-5s. Jorgensen checked to Dalby, who potted at 147,000. Mizzi folded and Jorgensen made the call. The turn fell the 9d. Jorgensen bet 270,000. Dalby then moved all-in and Jorgensen called. Jorgensen flipped over Qc-Js-8s-4s for the nut straight. Dalby flipped over Ac-Kc-10c-7d for a pair and a weaker straight draw. Dalby was drawing dead at this point, and the 9h on the river was meaningless. Eric Dalby’s remarkable run in this Pot Limit Omaha Championship came to a close. Dalby finished in 3rd place, earning £84,562. He may not have won, but he proved that anyone at any age can play this game.

Theo Jorgensen entered heads up play with nearly a 3 to 1 chip lead over Sorel Mizzi. He lead 2,435,000 to 865,000. Of course, this is PLO, and anything can happen. Sorel Mizzi at one point moved into the chip lead, but Jorgensen doubled up on Mizzi and put things back where they started when he rivered a full house to outdraw Mizzi wheel. After that point, things slowly went down hill for Mizzi.

About 45 minutes later, Jorgensen bet out 100,000 on a flop of Ks-8h-Jh. Mizzi raised, and Jorgensen then put him all in. Mizzi made the call. Jorgensen held Kh-Kd-Ac-3c for a set of kings. Mizzi held Ah-6h-Qh-5s for the nut flush draw. The turn fell the 2s, leaving Mizzi needing a heart to win. A 7d fell on the river, and Theo Jorgensen became the Champion of this Pot Limit Omaha Event. Sorel Mizzi was our runner-up, taking home £132,000 for his efforts.

165 players assembled to take their shot at the last preliminary bracelet at this World Series of Poker Europe. Theo Jorgensen survived a pro heavy and expert field to take home his first gold bracelet and £218,626 in prize money.

Congratulations to Theo Jorgensen, WSOP-E Event #3 Champion.

Many big names put up the cash for this event. Daniel Negreanu, Jens Voertmann, Gus Hansen, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, Josh Arieh, Brandon Cantu, Patrik Antonius, Ross Boatman, Phil Hellmuth, Nanad Medic, Layne Flack, John Juanda, Freddy Deeb, Eli Elezra, David Benyamine, Barny Boatman, Andy Black, Tom “Durrrr” Dwan, Thor Hansen, Doyle Brunson, Allen Cunningham, Erik Seidel, Robert Willaimson III, Chris Ferguson, and Andy Bloch all were on hand as well as many other known players.

This event gave each player the option of a free 10,000 chip rebuy that could either be taken at the beginning of their tournament or at the any time during the first 3 levels. Daniel Negreanu was the first big name to be eliminated from the event. He apparently took his rebuy at the start of the event and proceeded to lose it in quick fashion.

Action was hot and heavy early on. The 2007 WSOP Europe Pot Limit Omaha Champion Dario Alioto was eliminated shortly after Negreanu. Jens Voertmann was also eliminated around the same time. Voertmann won the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at the WSOP in Vegas in June.

Gus Hansen was eliminated by Jason Mercier. At showdown the board showed Ad-8-6d-Q-J. Mercier held 8-7-6-4 for two pair and Hansen held 9-7-5-3 for a couple of draws that missed. Mike “The Mouth” Matusow did not make it to the dinner break in this event. We aren’t sure of how he was eliminated but when someone mentioned how quiet it was, we realized it was due to his departure.

Josh Arieh and Phil Ivey were eliminated not long after the dinner break. Arieh was all in against Donnacha O’Dea. Arieh had a straight and O’Dea a set of aces. The river card paired the board, giving O’Dea the full house and Arieh the shaft. Phil Ivey was down to around 3,000 after the dinner break and shortly was eliminated. He’s probably looking for Mike Matusow to try and start a Chinese Poker game.

Sherkhan Farnood was playing in this event while playing the £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. final table. On a board of 4h-Qh-3s-9h-Jd, Farnood was all in against Erik Seidel and Andreas Krause. Farnood showed Qs-8s-10c-9c for the nut straight. Seidel only held a pair of aces. Krause mucked his hand. After the hand Farnood tripled up to 37,000.

Annette Obrestad was soon eliminated by David Williams. Obrestad had flopped a full house with the board showing 5-5-7 on the flop. She had a 5-7 in her hand. Sadly, Williams had pocket sevens for the nut boat. As a result, Obrestad floated down the river.

This event will not bring John Phan his third bracelet of the year. On a flop of 8h-7h-7c, Phan bet out 3,000. Jani Sointula raised the size of the pot, followed by Phan moving all-in. Sointula called. Phan showed Ad-Ah-8c-10c for aces up. Sointula showed Qs-8s-5h-6h for two pair and the straight flush draw. The turn fell the Kh, giving Sointula the flush and the river card fell the Kc, sealing the win for Sointula.

Three big names were eliminated in short order. First Richard Ashby was eliminated by Surindar Sunar. Soon afterwards, Sunar was eliminated when his two pair were outdrawn by another opponents better two pair. Patrik Antonius went all in holding a pair of queens but the hand was outdrawn and he was sent to the rail as well.

Barry Greenstein was eliminated by Neil Channing. As a result Greenstein is short another copy of his book. Channing made the final table in the Event #1 of the World Series of Poker Europe. Adam Junglen and Tom “Durrrr” Dwan didn’t fare much better and were eliminated shortly after the beginning of the last level of the night.

David Williams had a roller coaster of a day. He was down to just 13,000 chips at one point in the evening but increased it to over 100,000 by the last level. Part of that stack came at the expense of Jeff Madsen. Williams crippled Madsen when he flopped a set of kings, outdrawing Madsens’ aces. Then shortly afterwards, Madsen was all in with a straight draw and a pair. Williams had a pair of queens and a backdoor flush draw. The board came running hearts to fill out Williams’ flush and Madsen was out the door.

Jason Mercier finished the day as the chip leader with 209,800 in chips. Shaun Deeb was next with 190,700. Bruno Fitoussi was the high pro of the day with 123,700. Other notables are David Williams at 122,400, Phil Laak at 111,400, and Andy Bloch at 109,200. Chris Ferguson, Erik Seidel, Robert Williamson III and Allen Cunningham are all around the middle of the field. Doyle Brunson is still alive in his hunt for his 11th bracelet, but he is one of the short stacks with 36,500. Don’t count him out however as this a few well timed pots could turn him from a short stack to a chip leader.

Many pros bit the dust in this day one, including fan favorite Daniel Negreanu. David Benyamine and Phil Hellmuth also did not make it through the day. 2007 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Champion Freddy Deeb couldn’t find any magic on this day.

The day started with 165 players but in the end only 45 players remained in this Pot Limit Omaha Championship. While the pace of play on Day 1 was fast and furious, expect Thursday’s play to be a little more subdued due to the large stacks that will be in play. Players will return at 3 P.M. on Thursday London time to make a march towards the final table in this event.

Play progressed somewhat slow to begin with but soon picked up as the structure for this even seems a little fast. Phil Ivey took down a nice three way pot during a stud 8 round against Jason Newitt and Thomas Bihl. Ivey led the action on fourth and fifth streets. Bihl caught a pair of queens on sixth, and bet out showing a board of (X-X)Jc-9s-Qd-Qc. Ivey raised showing a board of (X-X) 6c-5s-6s-Jd. Newitt folded. Seventh Street was dealt face down and Bihl checked to Ivey, who fired out a bet. Bihl made the call. Ivey showed 6d-5c for his down cards for the full house and Bihl mucked. At this point in the event, Ivey was around 18,000 in chips.

Several tables had very strong lineups but none compared to table 8. Table 8 had Doyle Brunson, Chad Brown, Max Pescatori, Thor Hansen, John Juanda, Chris Bjorn, Jean-Robert Bellande, Robert Wiliamson III, and some unknown guy. Oh wait, the unknown guy is the dealer.

Chad Brown ended up being the first big name eliminated from today’s H.O.R.S.E. event. In an Omaha 8 or better round, Chad Brown made it two bets to go on a flop of 5h-2c-7h. Both Robert Williamson III and Jean-Robert Bellande made the call. The turn of the Qc and the river of the 10h were checked down. Williamson showed 8h-6c-3s-Ac for the nut low and Bellande showed 6d-3h-2h-Kc for the flush. Brown mucked his hand and headed out of the tournament area.

Andy Black was the next big name to hit the door. During a stud round, Black made a raise on Fourth Street showing a (X-X) Jd-4h. The original bettor, Ivo Donev, made the call showing (X-X) Jh-5s. Black caught a 3c on fifth and Donev caught the 3s. They both checked. On sixth, Donev fired out a bet after catching an Ah. Black only had three 25 denomination chips and made the call after catching the 2c. Donev showed Js-9h for a pair of jacks. Black showed A-Q for a wheel draw. Donev caught a nine on the river for jacks up and Black only caught a king, and Andy faded to Black.

Phil Hellmuth has been really holding his own today. He has been near the top of the chip lead for most of the session. In an Omaha 8 hand between himself, Layne Flack, and Neal Friets, Hellmuth bet out on a board of 5h-6s-4h-6d and Flack moved all in. Hellmuth and Friets called along. The river fell the Jd and Hellmuth bet out. Friets made the call. Friets showed 2s-3d-9c-7s for a seven high straight and a 6 low. Hellmuth then flipped over Ac-3c-6h-6c for quad sixes and second nut low. Flack commented, “Quad sixes and the second nut low, is that all you got?” He then mucked his hand and departed from the tournament area.

Shortly afterwards Mike “the Mouth” Matusow started razzing Hellmuth about the fact that Hellmuth has not won a bracelet in a non-holdem event. This is actually true. Hellmuth has 11 gold bracelets, but all in one form of holdem or another. Norman Chad has been quoted as saying, “He is a one trick pony, but boy, what a trick.”

H.O.R.S.E. is not the only thing being played today. During the breaks Mike Matusow, Doyle Brunson, John Juanda, and Phil Hellmuth decided to play some $1,000 a point Chinese Poker. Unfortunately for Matusow, he didn’t win a hand. The crowd could hear his tirade across the room after the break.

Thor Hansen again could not summon help from Odin and busted out from today’s event, although we do not have the details of his bustout. Dave “DevilFish” Ulliott busted out shortly after losing a big stud pot against Gary Jones “ace high.” Michael Binger was eliminated by David Williams when Binger’s buried queens could not outdraw Williams split aces. Chris Ferguson and Mike “Timex” McDonald were also casualties of the last level.

After a 12 and ½ hour session, the first day of the H.O.R.S.E. event concluded with Phil Ivey in the lead. This should come as a shock to noone since Ivey is considered by many to be the best overall poker player alive. In a shocking development to all, Phil Hellmuth is in second place with 54,200 chips. Woody Deck is third in chips at 37,500. Daniel Negreanu and Howard Lederer are both hovering around the 30,000 chip mark. At present it appears that Richard Ashby is the short stack at 3,200 in chips. For some unknown reason, Mike Matusow did not report the amount of chips he had remaining, but he is indeed still in this event. It also appears that Doyle Brunson busted somewhere around the end of the day, but we do not have any information on how this occurred.

56 players survived Day 1 of this £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event. Tomorrow promises to be a long day as we are expected to play to the final table. With the fast structure of play, expect a lot of early bustouts and then play to slow to a grind as we approach the money bubble. Only 16 players will be paid in this event with 16th place paying £4,812. The winner of this event will take £76,999 and the coveted gold bracelet. Day 2 of this event will start Sunday at 2 p.m.

Thor Hansen, Max Pescatori, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Chris “Jesus’ Ferguson, John Juanda, Erik Seidel, Brandon Cantu, Barry Greenstein, Layne Flack, Roland De Wolfe, and several local professionals were among those competing in this first day. Max Pescatori was one of the first casualties of the day when he and Andrew Teng called an all-in bet from William Martin. Pescatori was on a flush draw, Martin held aces, and Teng held kings. In the end, Pescatori didn’t catch his flush and he was eliminated before the start of level two.

Phil Ivey went out before the end of level two, but if you must go out of a tournament, go out like Ivey did. On the turn, the board showed Q-8-5-9, and Ivey had a nut straight against Johnny Cooke. The river fell another five and Cooke checked to Ivey. Ivey moved all-in and Cooke called and showed pocket fives for quad fives. Ivey then headed “straight” out of the door.

Chris Ferguson and Roland De Wolfe departed during level four. Odin couldn’t help Thor Hansen on this day, as he was also a Day 1a casualty. Layne Flack proved that bad timing can happen to pros as well as amateurs. A player raised preflop and was called. Flack decided that he would try to make a move and go all in with K-Q. Unfortunately, the original raiser had pocket aces and Flack hit the sack. Barry Greenstein didn’t fare any better, and someone now has a signed copy of his book.

Daniel Negreanu quietly built his stack through Day 1a and finished the session with the unofficial chip lead. He current sits with 74,900 in chips. Not far behind is Jason Gray who has 72,800. Brandon Cantu finished in the top 5 in chips for the day and John Juanda finished in the middle of the pack with around 27,000 in chips. Erik Seidel is the 2nd short stack of the day with only around 7,000 chips remaining.

Day 1a was supposed to last ten full levels but the action today was fast and furious. Players dropped out at such a rapid pace that tournament officials decided to conclude play after only eight levels. 42 players remain of the 191 that started the day. This event is expected to sell out, so tomorrow’s Day 1b is expected to be at least 309 players. Several players have yet to take their seats including Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, David Benyamine, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, and Scotty Nguyen. Expect tomorrow’s action to be very pro heavy with a lot of action.

Tomorrow’s action kicks off at 1 p.m. London time.

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